Migrants remarks: PC makes a U-turn

The Home Minister, who blamed migrants for the rise in crimes in Delhi, withdraws remark following criticism.

advertisement

Kumar Vikram

Aman Sharma

New Delhi

December 14, 2010

UPDATED: December 14, 2010 14:28 IST

Union home minister P. Chidambaram on Monday sparked outrage after he blamed migrants for the Capital's rising crime graph. However, facing flak from all quarters, he ate humble pie and retracted his statement within three hours, saying he had "nothing against migrants". "I am a migrant myself," he said, in a belated bid to smooth ruffled feathers.

Chidambaram was inaugurating the New Delhi City Centre complex on Monday when he was asked to comment on the rising rape incidents in the Capital. The minister responded by suggesting that it was migrants settled in Delhi's unauthorised colonies who were responsible for most of the crimes.

"Crime takes place because Delhi attracts a large number of migrants. There are a large number of unauthorised colonies.

And these migrants who settle in the city's northwest colonies carry a kind of behaviour which is unacceptable in any modern city. So crimes do take place," he said.

Chidambaram's statement came just days after a teenager was abducted from Sultanpuri by a gang of four and raped in a car.

However, faced with a volley of criticism from the Opposition and uneasiness within his own party over the "irresponsible" statement, Chidambaram did an uncharacteristic rollback a few hours later.

"I have nothing against migration or migrants, being a migrant myself. I am dismayed that some people have pounced upon the word 'migrant' and raised a controversy. I was pointing to 'behaviour that is unacceptable'.

Nevertheless, I think the best way to put an end to any controversy would be to withdraw the whole of my answer to the question, and I do so," he said in a statement. But the damage was done, and politicos continued to take potshots at him throughout the day. The first to react was RJD chief Lalu Prasad, who termed the statement as "unfortunate". "I disapprove of Chidambaram's statement.

In future, he should talk about his own failure and not put the blame on others," he said. UP chief minister Mayawati was equally scathing. "Chidambaram's remarks are irresponsible. He should immediately apologise to the people of the country. The people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar will not forget Chidambaram for his comment," she said.

BJP's Shahnawaz Hussain said the statement was aimed at "covering up the home minister's failures". "Congress leaders are taking out their frustration over the party's defeat in Bihar," he added. His party colleague Prakash Javadekar termed it the "most absurd comment" from Chidambaram yet.

Delhi BJP president Vijender Gupta said: "By making irresponsible allegations on the people of unauthorised colonies, the home minister has also insulted Sonia Gandhi. Two years ago, she had herself distributed provisional certificates to the residents of these colonies. Sonia had also promised that within a year, all the unauthorised colonies would be regularised."

While the Congress declined to comment on the controversy, party MP Sandeep Dikshit said: "Chidambaram is not aware of the facts."

The Delhi Police, however, were with Chidambaram on the issue. Officers said most of those apprehended in various criminal cases are from neighbouring areas in UP and Haryana. "Criminal elements from Ghaziabad, Meerut, Bulandshahr, Sonepat, Ballabhgarh, Mewat and other adjoining areas take advantage of the proximity to the national capital. Generally, they come here, commit crimes and escape," a senior officer said.

"In Delhi, most criminals list their address in areas such as Seelampur, Jaffrabad and Welcome in northeast Delhi; Mangolpuri, Shakurpur, Narela in outer Delhi, and resettlement colonies situated along the Yamuna bank in east Delhi. Most of them have been found to be migrants from Haryana, Rajasthan, UP and Bihar," the officer added.

He said there is a pattern with most of these criminals. "Initially, they come here in search of small jobs. If they are not successful, they start indulging in petty crimes such as chainsnatching. Later, they move on to more heinous crimes such as robberies and murders. Anonymity in the big city due to high inflow of migrants also helps them stay in the shadows," the officer said.

A study of arrests made by the Delhi Police over the past month reveals that more than half of the criminals are from other states. On Monday, for instance, the police arrested two men on the charge of cheating. While one accused, Amir Hussain, is a resident of Lucknow, the other, Dushyant Verma, is from Agra.

Over the past month, there have been over 20 such instances in which criminals belonging to other states have been found involved in crimes. Incidentally, even the five persons involved in the Dhaula Kuan gang rape are from Mewat in Haryana.